Futures trading offers investors the opportunity to speculate on the future price of assets, such as cryptocurrencies, commodities, or indices. While the potential for profit is significant, understanding the cost structure—especially trading fees—is essential for maximizing returns and managing risk. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about futures trading fees, how they’re calculated, and how you can reduce them through volume-based incentives and strategic participation.
Whether you're new to derivatives or an experienced trader, clarity on fee mechanics empowers smarter decision-making. Let’s dive into the fundamentals.
What Are Futures Trading Fees?
Futures trading fees are charges applied when opening and closing positions on a futures contract. These fees are separate from other costs like funding rates (which apply in perpetual contracts) and are typically deducted directly from your margin balance at the time of execution.
There are two types of fees based on your role in the trade:
- Maker Fee: Charged (or credited) when you place a limit order that adds liquidity to the order book.
- Taker Fee: Applied when you place a market order that removes liquidity by matching with an existing order.
👉 Discover how low fees can boost your long-term trading performance.
These rates vary depending on your trading activity, account tier, and whether you qualify for special programs like market making.
How Are Futures Trading Fees Calculated?
Fees are calculated based on the nominal value of your position, which is determined by multiplying the mark price (in USDT) by the size of your position (in cryptocurrency units).
Formula:
Nominal Value = Mark Price [USDT] × Position Size [Crypto Units]
Example:
Suppose you open a 10 BTC long position with a mark price of $29,400 using 10x leverage. Your nominal value would be:
$29,400 × 10 BTC = $294,000
If you’re a standard maker with a fee rate of 0.01%, your fee would be:
0.01% × $294,000 = $29.40 USDT
This same calculation applies when closing the position. Both entry and exit trades incur fees.
Can You Get Discounts on Trading Fees?
Yes—active traders can significantly reduce their costs through tiered fee structures based on 30-day trading volume and platform token holdings. On many platforms, including BTSE, users are assigned VIP levels that determine their maker and taker rates.
Higher trading volumes and greater holdings of the native token (e.g., BTSE Token) unlock better rates, sometimes even resulting in negative maker fees, meaning you get paid to provide liquidity.
Core Keywords:
- futures trading fees
- maker and taker fees
- nominal value calculation
- VIP trading discounts
- market maker program
- margin balance deduction
- fee reduction strategies
BTSE VIP Tiers and Fee Structure
Your VIP level is updated daily based on your trailing 30-day trading volume (converted to USDT) and BTSE token balance. All trading activity—spot and futures—counts toward qualification.
| VIP Level | Maker Fee | Taker Fee | 30-Day Volume (USDT) | BTSE Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 0.0100% | 0.0500% | No minimum | 0 |
| VIP 1 | 0.0100% | 0.0480% | Spot: 100K / Futures: 500K | 100 |
| VIP 2 | 0.0100% | 0.0480% | Spot: 250K / Futures: 1M | 500 |
| VIP 3 | -0.0125% | 0.0480% | Spot: 1M / Futures: 25M | 1K |
| VIP 4 | -0.0125% | 0.0460% | Spot: 5M / Futures: 50M | 2K |
| VIP 5 | -0.0150% | 0.0460% | Spot: 12.5M / Futures: 100M | 3K |
| VIP 6 | -0.0150% | 0.0440% | Spot: 50M / Futures: 250M | 5K |
| VIP 7 | -0.0175% | 0.0420% | Spot: 200M / Futures: 1B | 8K |
| VIP 8 | -0.0175% | 0.0400% | Spot: 500M / Futures: 1.25B | 12K |
| VIP 9 | -0.0200% | 0.0380% | Spot: 1B / Futures: 2.5B | 20K |
| VIP 10 | -0.0200% | 0.0360% | Spot: 2B / Futures: 5B | 30K |
🔍 Note: Only the highest applicable discount is applied if multiple promotions exist. Self-referral across multiple accounts is strictly prohibited.
You can check your current VIP status under your account profile settings.
👉 See how upgrading your trading tier can cut costs instantly.
Do Market Makers Get Special Rates?
Absolutely. Market makers play a crucial role in maintaining exchange liquidity, and platforms like BTSE reward them with enhanced incentives, including negative maker fees.
The Market Maker (MM) program has four tiers based on the percentage of total exchange volume contributed:
- MM1: ≥ 0.15% of exchange volume → Maker: -0.0125%, Taker: 0.04%
- MM2: ≥ 0.5% → Maker: -0.015%, Taker: 0.035%
- MM3: ≥ 1.5% → Maker: -0.0175%, Taker: 0.0325%
- MM4: ≥ 3% → Maker: -0.02%, Taker: 0.03%
These aggressive rebates mean high-volume participants earn income just by placing limit orders.
To join the program, contact official support directly—though specific channels have been removed here per policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When are futures trading fees charged?
A: Fees are applied both when opening and closing a position. They’re automatically deducted from your margin balance upon execution.
Q: How does holding BTSE token help reduce fees?
A: Holding a certain amount of BTSE token qualifies you for higher VIP tiers, which offer lower taker fees and even negative maker fees—effectively paying you for adding liquidity.
Q: Is there a minimum trade size to qualify for VIP levels?
A: There’s no minimum trade size, but you must meet cumulative volume thresholds over a rolling 30-day period (in USDT equivalent) and maintain required token balances.
Q: Can I combine VIP discounts with promotional offers?
A: No, discounts cannot be stacked. If eligible for multiple benefits, the most favorable rate will apply.
Q: How often are VIP levels updated?
A: Daily. Your tier adjusts dynamically based on your latest 30-day performance.
Q: What happens if my volume drops after qualifying for a VIP level?
A: Your tier may decrease if your trailing volume falls below the threshold. Maintaining consistent activity helps retain preferred status.
👉 Start building your path to lower fees today—every trade counts.
Final Thoughts
Understanding futures trading fees goes beyond simple percentages—it's about optimizing your entire trading strategy around cost efficiency. By leveraging volume-based tiers, holding platform tokens, or participating in market-making programs, traders can turn fee structures into profit enhancers rather than expenses.
Smart trading isn’t just about picking winners; it’s about minimizing friction in every transaction. With clear insights into how fees are calculated and reduced, you're better equipped to navigate futures markets confidently and profitably.
Remember: small savings per trade compound significantly over time—especially at high volumes. Stay informed, track your progress, and aim for the lowest sustainable fee structure possible.